Vancouver

Population: 603,500
Current emissions: 2.6M tCO2e (2014)
Per capita emissions: 4.3 tCO2e/person (2014 estimate)
Reduction Target: 33% below 2007 levels by 2020 (approx 1.8M t); 100% renewable energy by 2050// 2.7M t (1990)

In 2012, the City of Vancouver launched the Greenest City Action Plan, with a goal of becoming the greenest city in the world by 2020. In the latest 2015 implementation update, the City reported that 50% of all trips taken in Vancouver are by foot, bicycle or transit. In efforts to reduce further vehicle emissions, the City has implemented a building bylaw requiring the installation of electric vehicle charging stations for all new apartment buildings, condos and townhouses.

Since 2010, over 37,000 new trees have been planted, and “food assets” (community garden plots, orchards, composting facilities, community, kitchens, urban farms etc.) have increased by 36%. Helping incentivise projects like community gardens is Vancouver’s Greenest City Neighbourhood Small Grants program that provides grants of up to $1,000 Vancouver residents to develop projects that contribute to the City’s Greenest City Action Plan Targets.

Building upon the Greenest City Action Plan, in April 2015, Vancouver committed to run on 100% renewable energy. When Vancouver will be 100% renewable is still to be determined, but is expected to be by 2050. The City is currently working on a plan to phase out its use of fossil fuels and the report is expected to be completed in the fall. They are the first city in Canada to commit to 100% renewable energy, joining a number of other cities (including San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Copenhagen, Frankfurt and Sydney) who have made similar commitments.